How you can donate to bushfire relief
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Queensland-government-backed Givit is coordinating donations of items across Australia. Search “Givit”
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has urged people to pledge money – not clothes or food – to his state’s communities, saying they don’t have the time, space or people to sort through items.
“I don’t want to appear harsh in any way, but we don’t need any more clothes, food, trucks on our roads,” he said on Sunday. “I know it all comes from a place of kindness and I thank everybody who’s made those donations.”
The CFA, Victoria’s rural fire service, echoed that call: “Experience tells us that donation of money is much more effective and provides more flexibility than the donation of material items or pre-loved goods.”
Accommodation
Offers of emergency accommodation for people displaced by the East Gippsland bushfires are being managed by the local council. Those able to help should email feedback “at” egipps.vic.gov.au, with details of location, bedrooms available, facilities and return contact details.
Elsewhere, writer and sports commentator Erin Riley says more than 5500 people have used Find A Bed to offer beds or homes to evacuees.
Money
Bendigo Bank Bushfires Disaster Appeal (Endorsed by Vic government)
Bendigo Bank’s charitable arm has established a nationwide fund and six other funds for each state. All money will go to those who have lost everything for immediate relief.
The Victorian government has endorsed the Victorian fund and added $2 million to it on Sunday.
“If there’s money sufficient beyond that, we’ll look to support communities that have been affected,” Premier Daniel Andrews said.
Search “Bendigo Bank bushfire appeal”.
State Fire Services
Donations can be made to the state-funded rural fire services. Some states allow pledges to individual brigades.
* Victoria: search “CFA Donate”
* NSW: search “NSW RFS donate”
* South Australia: search “CFS Foundation”
* Queensland: search “Donate to RFBAQ” to donate to individual brigades
Fallen Firefighters’ Families
The NSW RFS has established official funds for the young families of Samuel McPaul, Geoffrey Keaton and Andrew O’Dwyer, who lost their lives battling fires this season. Search “Support firefighter families” on the NSWRFS site.
Celeste Barber’s Donation Page
More than half a million people from across the globe have pledged $23.4 million to the NSW RFS through the Australian comedian’s Facebook fundraiser.
That amount is equivalent to two weeks of funding for what is the world’s largest fire service.
Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund
Donations are being accepted through the general disaster relief fund, which goes to helping those affected by bushfires, heat, floods, cyclones and other emergencies.
More than $8 million has been raised since New Year’s Eve.
Salvation Army
The Salvos are providing meals to evacuees and first-responders. Search “Salvos bushfire appeal”.
St. Vincent de Paul
Vinnies is helping with bills, clothing, bedding and food. The Queensland government chipped in $25,000 in September as part of a wider $100,000 donation. Search “Vinnies Bushfire Appeal”.
Wildlife
Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service (WIRES) say they received more than 20,000 calls in December alone, up 14 per cent. Search “WIRES donate”.
Mogo Zoo and the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital have both set up GoFundMe pages, raising $50,000 and $3.1 million respectively. Search “Mogo Zoo Fire Recovery” or “Port Macquarie Koala Hospital” on GoFundMe.com.
Gofundme
have been raised on the website, including the wildlife funds above, $138,000 for the Mallacoota Fires Support Fund and $110,000 in one fund for Cudgewa and surrounding Victorian towns.
With AAP
Pearl Dy is a community manager and journalist. She is passionate about business and development particularly involving not-for-profits, charity and social entrepreneurship.
